Comments on: Is free software profitable in the long run? http://www.cruseit.com/2008/10/is-free-software-profitable-in-the-long-run/ views on the information technology industry, management, & life Thu, 12 Aug 2010 00:06:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Highly Profitable Networking For You In Tough And Good Times. | 7Wins.eu http://www.cruseit.com/2008/10/is-free-software-profitable-in-the-long-run/comment-page-1/#comment-12670 Highly Profitable Networking For You In Tough And Good Times. | 7Wins.eu Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:25:46 +0000 http://www.cruseit.com/?p=1054#comment-12670 [...] Profitable TimeIs free software profitable in the long run? | Here To Ask Why [...] [...] Profitable TimeIs free software profitable in the long run? | Here To Ask Why [...]

]]> By: Michael Cruse http://www.cruseit.com/2008/10/is-free-software-profitable-in-the-long-run/comment-page-1/#comment-189 Michael Cruse Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:28:05 +0000 http://www.cruseit.com/?p=1054#comment-189 BTW, Intuit posted a wider loss this quarter...tough times. I tested Quicken Online and it is a basic 'teaser' application. It lacks several of the functions of the desktop application, and looks to be a method by which they will attempt to attract new customers to the more feature rich desktop version. I know that I would not have been happy to pay a monthly fee for the web application, when the desktop versions have more features and a lower total cost. BTW, Intuit posted a wider loss this quarter…tough times.

I tested Quicken Online and it is a basic ‘teaser’ application. It lacks several of the functions of the desktop application, and looks to be a method by which they will attempt to attract new customers to the more feature rich desktop version.

I know that I would not have been happy to pay a monthly fee for the web application, when the desktop versions have more features and a lower total cost.

]]> By: Preston http://www.cruseit.com/2008/10/is-free-software-profitable-in-the-long-run/comment-page-1/#comment-93 Preston Sat, 18 Oct 2008 12:00:58 +0000 http://www.cruseit.com/?p=1054#comment-93 Well everything I wanted to say was said by nukeit and Philip but I felt I had to add my two cents worth anyway... <abbr><em><abbr><em>Prestons last blog post..<a href="http://meandtheblueskies.blogspot.com/2008/10/sits-photoshop-contest-makes-my.html">The SITS Photoshop Contest Makes My Chocolate Contest Look Bogus!</a></em></abbr></em></abbr> Well everything I wanted to say was said by nukeit and Philip but I felt I had to add my two cents worth anyway…

Prestons last blog post..The SITS Photoshop Contest Makes My Chocolate Contest Look Bogus!

]]> By: Philip http://www.cruseit.com/2008/10/is-free-software-profitable-in-the-long-run/comment-page-1/#comment-91 Philip Fri, 17 Oct 2008 18:47:24 +0000 http://www.cruseit.com/?p=1054#comment-91 I agree w/ nukeit. The money is in the services these days. Especially in Enterprise computing HW and SW. Most companies almost give away SW and HW in the Enterprise space to lock a customer into a service contract. It looks like this is starting to trickle down to the consumer market. Companies that are exploring this business model with some success are IBM, HP, Sun Microsystems, Red Hat Linux, and Ubuntu Linux. Someday, everything will be a service. Count on it. I agree w/ nukeit. The money is in the services these days. Especially in Enterprise computing HW and SW. Most companies almost give away SW and HW in the Enterprise space to lock a customer into a service contract. It looks like this is starting to trickle down to the consumer market. Companies that are exploring this business model with some success are IBM, HP, Sun Microsystems, Red Hat Linux, and Ubuntu Linux. Someday, everything will be a service. Count on it.

]]> By: nukeit http://www.cruseit.com/2008/10/is-free-software-profitable-in-the-long-run/comment-page-1/#comment-88 nukeit Fri, 17 Oct 2008 06:56:54 +0000 http://www.cruseit.com/?p=1054#comment-88 Just took a look at osalt's database for FOSS alternatives to Quicken. All 4 of those programs will run on Windows (Java) and all support importing Quicken files. Long ago, I told a few customers that there were free Quicken compatible software on Linux, and it was essentially the "killing blow" to get them to switch. I see these changes as a good step though not soon enough, and I'm sure I would have a few bones to pick concerning their EULA. The great thing about pricing is that it's dynamic. They can quickly go from free to $19.95. I'm also sure that they try to survey each user as often as they can to find out whether people will pay and how much. You might also take their long standing corporate software and support packages in to consideration. These $10K+ packages are every software companies bread and butter. They aren't losing these to a crippled, online only, unsupported, "home user" edition of their software :) Just took a look at osalt’s database for FOSS alternatives to Quicken. All 4 of those programs will run on Windows (Java) and all support importing Quicken files. Long ago, I told a few customers that there were free Quicken compatible software on Linux, and it was essentially the “killing blow” to get them to switch.

I see these changes as a good step though not soon enough, and I’m sure I would have a few bones to pick concerning their EULA. The great thing about pricing is that it’s dynamic. They can quickly go from free to $19.95. I’m also sure that they try to survey each user as often as they can to find out whether people will pay and how much.

You might also take their long standing corporate software and support packages in to consideration. These $10K+ packages are every software companies bread and butter. They aren’t losing these to a crippled, online only, unsupported, “home user” edition of their software :)

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